Appeal nears goal for 2019 campaign

Gifts and pledges to the 2019 Catholic Services Appeal are close to the $3.9 million goal, but support from parishioners and friends in the Archdiocese of Louisville are still needed to help the appeal cross the finish line.

As of Feb. 25, the total stands at $3,716,628, which is 95 percent of the 2019 goal. And, the total number of donors is 12,955, which is 97 percent of the donor participation goal.

“Every donation, no matter the size, can help change the world for one person,” said Melody Denson, director of the Office of Mission Advancement. She was echoing the campaign’s theme: “To change the world, we must be good to those who cannot repay us,” a quote from Pope Francis.

The Catholic Services Appeal, also known as the bishop’s appeal, supports more than 100 ministries and agencies of the archdiocese. If you took part in a Communion minister training program or attended a youth rally or decorated an ornament for the Tree of Remembrance at Calvary Cemetery, then you were one of hundreds who benefitted from the appeal.

“A lot of people don’t realize what the CSA helps to fund, such as youth ministry and religious education programs. It’s not only for the bigger ministries, such as the seminarian education,” said Denson. “There are so many pieces to the puzzle.”

In previous years at this point in the campaign, the goal has typically been met, Denson noted. But, leaders of the campaign feel confident it will still be successful with the help of pastors and parish leaders.

“We’re grateful to the parish leaders and pastors who are doing the hard work in the trenches. We are so grateful to them and their support,” Denson said.

To date, 51 of the archdiocese’s 110 parishes have reached their goal. And, 14 others are between 95 and 99 percent of goal.

Parishes with the highest dollar totals are: Holy Trinity, St. Bernadette and St. Margaret Mary churches.

The parishes that have met the highest percentage of their goal are Christ the King Church, St. Benedict Church in Lebanon Junction, Ky., and St. Vincent de Paul Church in New Hope, Ky.

Parishes with the most donor participation are St. Margaret Mary, St. Bernadette and St. Gabriel.

And, parishes with the highest percentage of their donor participation goal are St. Benedict, St. Aloysius in Shepherdsville and tied for third are St. Rita and St. Helen in Glasgow, Ky.

A full listing of ministries and agencies supported by the appeal can be found at www.archlou.org/csa\.

Click here for a story about Erin Dwyer, coordinator of annual giving and stewardship for the Office of Mission Advancement.

Hundreds of Christmas ornaments were personalized and placed on the Tree of Remembrance at Calvary Cemetery during Advent last year. The Catholic Services Appeal helps fund this and other ministries of the archdiocese. (Record Photo by Marnie McAllister)
Jessica Able
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